Senior legislator G. Sudhakaran was sworn in as the pro tem Speaker of the Kerala Legislative Assembly on Wednesday during a ceremony held at Raj Bhavan in Thiruvananthapuram. The oath was administered in the presence of Chief Minister V. D. Satheesan and Governor Rajendra Vishwanath Arlekar. The development comes shortly after the Congress-led United Democratic Front officially formed the new government in Kerala, bringing an end to a decade-long rule by the Left Democratic Front headed by the Communist Party of India (Marxist).

V.D. Satheesan took oath as Kerala’s 13th Chief Minister during a large public ceremony at Central Stadium in Thiruvananthapuram. Soon after assuming office, he chaired his first Cabinet meeting and announced a series of welfare measures aimed at delivering key promises made during the election campaign. Among the major decisions was the introduction of free travel for women in KSRTC buses starting June 15. The Cabinet also approved the formation of a separate department focused on elderly welfare. In addition, ASHA workers will receive a monthly honorarium increase of Rs 3,000 following long-standing demands raised during protests outside the state Secretariat.

The government also announced a Rs 1,000 increase in monthly payments for Anganwadi workers, helpers, school meal staff, pre-primary teachers, and ayahs. Another major decision taken by the new Cabinet was the formation of a Special Investigation Team to probe alleged attacks on Congress workers during the 2023 Nava Kerala Yatra led by former Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan.

Speaking after the meeting, Satheesan said the government had begun implementing the “Indira guarantees” promised by the UDF during the election campaign. He emphasized that the administration intended to prioritize welfare initiatives and social support schemes from the very beginning of its term. The swearing-in ceremony for the new Cabinet witnessed a large turnout, with people gathering both inside and outside the venue. Governor Arlekar administered the oath of office and secrecy to Satheesan and his 20-member Council of Ministers after the ceremonial rendition of Vande Mataram and the national anthem.

The new Cabinet includes 14 first-time ministers, two women ministers, and two representatives from Scheduled Caste communities. The Congress secured 11 ministerial positions, while its ally, the Indian Union Muslim League, received five portfolios. Smaller allies including the Kerala Congress factions, the Revolutionary Socialist Party, and the CPI(M) were also represented in the ministry.

The ruling alliance has additionally named senior leader Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan as the proposed Speaker of the Assembly, while Shanimol Usman will serve as Deputy Speaker. The elections for Kerala’s 140-member Assembly were held on April 9, and the results announced on May 4 gave the UDF a decisive victory with 102 seats. The LDF won 35 seats, while the Bharatiya Janata Party secured three seats.